Rally Builder Series
By Jorge Capestany, RSPA Master Professional & PTR International Master Professional
After over four decades of teaching and spending more than 65,000 hours on the court, I’m more convinced than ever that the greatest gift a coach can give a new tennis player is the ability to rally.
In this blog post, I’m excited to share my Rally Builders Series, a system I’ve developed over the years to help players quickly learn to rally.
This material already exists as a course for subscribers, but the information is so important that I wanted to create this pot so everyone could access it for free.
This system consists of seven distinct drill series for young players and adults new to the game. The series includes 32 different exercises designed to help your players start rallying quickly so they can enjoy the game more.
You don’t need to use all 32 exercises or follow them in order. My hope with this blog is to provide you with various ideas to kickstart your players’ journey to rallying.
1. Ground Series Series
1. Ground Series #1: Ground Rolling from the Midline (No Racket)
In this drill, players practice rolling a ball back and forth along the ground, starting from the midline of their body. Focusing on the midline helps players develop accuracy, ensuring the ball travels straight ahead. This drill emphasizes proper alignment and coordination. Using a large play ball and no rackets, it recommends a line on the ground as a visual guide for players to maintain straight rolls. Players roll the ball to their partner using two hands, starting from the midline between their legs, for consistent control and precision.
2. Ground Series #2: Ground Rolling from the Midline with Racket
In this drill, each player uses two rackets. They continue to send the ball from the midline of their bodies, focusing on accuracy and alignment. Using a large play ball, they roll it back and forth with their partners along the ground. This step introduces the mechanics of handling rackets while keeping the movement controlled and consistent, helping players get accustomed to using rackets in a controlled, deliberate manner.
3. Ground Series #3: Ground Rolling Sideways with Racket:
This drill progresses from midline rolling to sending the ball from the side of the body. Players now learn to position themselves sideways to the ball, a fundamental skill for proper body alignment in tennis. To receive the ball, players "squash" it to stop its motion, then position themselves on the side of the ball to send it back to their partner along the ground. This drill emphasizes directional control and proper racket handling from a sideways stance. As shown in the GIF, younger players may initially struggle with maintaining accuracy, highlighting the importance of repetition and focus during this exercise.
4. Ground Series #4: Ground Rolling Sideways with Racket - Between 2 Cones:
Building on the previous drill, this exercise introduces two cones on the court to simulate boundaries. These cones define the proper playing area and help players develop spatial awareness. Players continue to "squash" the ball to stop it, then position themselves on the side of the ball to send it back to their partner along the ground. The cones reinforce the concept of court boundaries, encouraging players to practice accuracy and control to keep the ball within the designated area, a fundamental aspect of tennis gameplay.
5. Ground Series #5: Ground, Sideways with Racket & Continuous with Partner:
This drill builds upon the previous exercise, maintaining two cones on the court to define the playing area. However, players now skip the "squashing" step and focus on hitting the incoming ball directly back to their partner without stopping it. This continuous back-and-forth motion closely replicates the rhythm of a tennis rally. The drill emphasizes timing, control, and precision while reinforcing the importance of staying within court boundaries, preparing players for the dynamics of real gameplay.
2. Over the Net Series
1. Over the Net Series #1: Midpoint / Close Together / No Racket:
Players start close to the net with a target on the ground in front of them. Using a large play ball, they toss it from the midline (between their legs) back and forth with a partner. Using two hands and throwing from the midline is vital because many young children will end up slinging the ball in the wrong direction if they use only one hand. This simple exercise gives the players the concept that tennis is an exchange sport where the ball goes back and forth with the opponent. They practice both receiving and sending skills.
2. Over the Net Series #2: Midpoint / Further Back / No Racket:
This drill is very similar to the previous one, with the only difference being that the players have moved further apart. The targets on the ground should also be adjusted. Players continue to receive and send the ball back and forth with their partners from the midline of their bodies. Because the players are further apart, their receiving and sending skills are slightly more advanced.
3. Over the Net Series #3: Receive Midpoint / Send from Side:
In this version of the drill, the players receive the ball at midline but then turn sideways and send it back from the side of their bodies. This is a good progression for teaching players the rotational nature of a tennis stroke. It is helpful to have the players finish with their hands in a double high-five position as if an imaginary person were in front of them. This will help them keep their balance while they send the ball back to their partner.
4. Over the Net Series #4: Receive on Side / Send from Side:
Now, the players receive the ball on their side rather than the midline and then send it back to the partner from the side. This coiling and uncoiling movement is the same rotational movement of receiving and sending the ball they will do with a rally an actual tennis rally. It is not uncommon for the younger or newer players to be off balance when doing this, so repetition is the key to mastering this skill, which should be done cooperatively.
5. Over the Net Series #5: Receive and Send from Side (cross-court, down the line):
This drill builds upon the previous exercise but now adds an element of directional control. Targets are placed on the ground in front of the players, and one player will send the ball down the line while the other player sends the ball across the court. This will ensure that players get to practice both forehand and backhand throws and introduce them to a basic play pattern.
3. Self Rally Series
1. Self-Rally Series #1: Lift / Bounce / Trap at Different Strike Zones:
In this drill, players lift the ball in the air, let it bounce once, and then trap it against their strings. For a slightly more advanced version, we ask players to trap the ball in various strike zones. The best way to start this drill is to have the ball balance on their strings. Identifying the different strike zones is a nice element that players will need to know about later as they progress.
2. Self-Rally Series #2: Lift / Bounce / Rally / Trap:
This drill is similar to the previous one, but instead of trapping the ball against their strings, the players must try to balance the ball on their racket face without it falling off. Players lift the ball in the air, let it bounce, tap it up again (self-rally), and then try to catch (balance) the ball on their strings with the racket face open. This drill is great for developing racket face awareness and control.
3. Self-Rally Series #3: Lift / Bounce / One Rally / Ball on Strings:
In this version of the drill, the player simply tries to sustain a self-rally as long as possible. If players can successfully do a self-rally, they are not far from being able to rally with a partner. The key to succeeding in this drill is ensuring the players hit the ball at least as high as their head so they have time to position themselves for the next shot. We often use the results of this drill to help group players into smaller groupings within a class. It also serves as a perfect homework assignment for newer players.
4. Self-Rally Series #4: Self Rally Continuous:
This drill is similar to the previous one but a bit more advanced. Players continue to execute a self-rally, trying to get as many shots in a row as they can. The difference is that they must use different sides of the racket face each time they hit the ball. We call this the thumb side (forehand) or the knuckle side (backhand). This variation teaches players to use both sides of the racket face as they play.
5. Self-Rally Series #5: Self Rally Continuous (thumbs-knuckles):
This drill is quite advanced, so you must be selective with whom you do it. The first part of this drill involves the players hitting the ball gently in the air and alternating between different sides of the racket face (thumbs and knuckles). The ball should not be bouncing on the ground. The second, more difficult part is that the players continue to tap the ball up in the air, but now, every time they hit it, they put a small amount of spin by cutting the ball. Choking up on the racket may help players succeed. By having players “cut” the ball, they will learn how spin is imparted on the ball, but as mentioned before, this is a very advanced skill that not every player will be able to do.
6. Self-Rally Series #6: Self Rally in Air / Chop Suey:
This drill builds upon the previous exercise, maintaining two cones on the court to define the playing area. However, players now skip the "squashing" step, focusing on hitting the incoming ball directly back to their partner without stopping it. This continuous back-and-forth motion closely replicates the rhythm of a tennis rally. The drill emphasizes timing, control, and precision while reinforcing the importance of staying within court boundaries, preparing players for the dynamics of actual gameplay.
4. Lobster Series
1. Lobster Series #1: To Self / Lift-Bounce-Trap:
For this series, each player has two rackets. In this first drill, the players start with a ball between two rackets in front of their bodies. Then, they lift the ball into the air, let it bounce on the ground, and gently trap it between the two rackets. They continue to do this for several minutes as they gain control. This drill version does not involve a partner or going over a net.
2. Lobster Series #2: Over Net / Receive Midpoint / Send from Side:
This drill now progresses to be over the net and with a partner. Players start close to the net using the two rackets with the ball between the strings. They send the ball to their partner, who lets it bounce once and receives it at the midline. Then, they turn to the side and send the ball back to their partner from the side of their bodies. Sending the ball from the side replicates the rotational nature of a tennis stroke.
3. Lobster Series #3: Over Net / Receive on Side / Send from Side:
This drill is very similar to the previous one, except now the players receive the ball on one side of their body and then send it from that same side. This drill variation is slightly more advanced, but it's very effective in helping the players learn to coil and uncoil as they send the ball back and forth. If the players struggle to execute the drill, moving them closer to the net is okay, so they're not as far away from each other.
4. Lobster Series #4: Over Net / Receive on Side / Lift-Bounce-Send: |
The final version of this drill involves the players receiving the ball on the side of their body. Then, they lift the ball in the air, let it bounce once, and send it over to their partner. This variation is closer to what happens in a tennis rally and is an effective progression for getting players to rally over the net. If the players receive the ball on their backhand side, they can send it back with a left-handed forehand or a one-handed backhand.
5. Throw Rally Series
1. Throw Rally Series #1: Throw Ball Points (cooperative):
The throw series uses a larger play ball and no racket. This first variation is played on a micro-court near the net. The players start by holding a play ball in both hands, then turn (coil) to one side and then uncoil as they return the ball to their partner. The players should move each other around slightly, but this version should be cooperative. This drill is excellent for allowing players to move their opponents around the court sooner than they would be able to if they were actually rallying a tennis ball.
2. Throw Rally Series #2: Throw Ball Points (competitive):
This variation of the drill is played on a larger court. The players are now playing competitively, and each rally starts with a serve motion where the players hold the ball above their heads and throw it, similar to what happens in soccer. Then, the players simply rally back and forth, always catching the ball on the side and sending it from the side. The players should try to win the point by moving their opponents around. After the ball goes out of play, a point is scored, and a new point is started.
3. Throw Rally Series #3: Throw Points / Ping Pong Doubles (cooperative):
This drill version now features two players on a doubles team. In this Cooperative version, the players receive and throw a ball back to the opposing team. After each turn, they move to the end of their line as if playing doubles in ping-pong. Having a doubles version is fun for the players, and requiring them to move to the end of the line increases the footwork they must use.
4. Throw Rally Series #4: Throw Points / Ping Pong Doubles (competitive):
This final version of the drill still has a players on a double team, but now instead of cooperative the game is competitive. The players should focus on moving their opponents around the court and trying to win the point by throwing the ball into areas of the court where the opponents cannot catch it before it bounces twice. The serve remains the same and is introduced by throwing the ball with two hands from above the head.
6. Juggle Rally Series
1. Juggle Rally Series #1: Juggle Rally / Close Together:
The juggle rally series uses racket and a ball. This first variation is played on a microcourt near the net. Players must execute 3 self rallies and then send the ball over the net to their partner. Then their partner executes three self-rallies before returning the ball to the original player. Once that sequence is completed, the players only have to do two self-rallies before sending it back, and eventually, one self-rally until they finally reach no self-rallies and just hit the ball back and forth over the net.
2. Juggle Rally Series #2: Juggle Rally / Further Back:
This drill variation is like the previous one, but now the players are using a larger court and standing further away from each other. We like this version because it allows the coach to discuss swing size and swing speed, which will help the players learn how to send the ball to different depths into their opponent’s side of the court. This variation should still be done cooperatively. The coach could require players to use alternating sides of the racket face during the drill.
3. Juggle Rally Series #3: Juggle Rally / Thumbs & Knuckles:
This drill variation focuses on mastering racket face control. Players continue to juggle rally like they did in the previous drill, but every time they touch the ball, they must alter between using the thumb and knuckle sides of the racket face. This version is typically challenging for most young players but essential so they learn that you must be able to use both sides of the racket in a tennis rally. We refer to the thumb side as the forehand and the knuckle side as the backhand.
4. Juggle Rally Series #4: Juggle Rally / Three to Each Zone:
This drill variation requires even more control from the players. The players continue to juggle rally with each other, but each time they juggle the ball to themselves, they move forward into the different zones of the court from deep in the court to the middle of the court, and lastly, very close to the net. Then, they send the ball over the net to their partner, who does the same thing coming the other direction. Players will quickly learn to adjust the size of their swing to succeed in this drill.
7. Actual Rally Series
1. Actual Rally Series #1: Close to Net / Cooperative / Team scoring:
This series can be used when players can rally over the net. In the first part of this drill, the players warm up on a short court and play cooperatively. The second part of the drill has the players playing competitively using the full court. Players keep score, but it is part of a team score rather than an individual head-to-head scoring. There is no serving in this version and the point is started with the underhand feed.
2. Actual Rally Series #2: Baseline / Competitive / Score is head-to-head:
This drill variation involves the players keeping score and playing competitively. The difference is that now the players keep head-to-head scores. There's still no serving, and the point starts with an underhand feed. The coach should decide whether the players are is ready for head-to-head scoring. That is the fundamental difference between this version of the drill and the previous one.
3. Actual Rally Series #3: Competitive Points (serving) / Score as a Team:
In this drill variation, the players start points with an overhand serve, which makes the drill closer to what an actual tennis point will eventually be. The scoring reverts to team scoring, and the teammates add their scores to try to outscore the opposing team. Team scoring is a less threatening option for young players who may not be ready to feel like they “lost” to another person.
4. Actual Rally Series #4: Competitive Points (serving) / Score is head-to-head:
In this drill variation, the players continue starting points with an overhand serve but now keep head-to-head scores. This is the final variation of the entire series and is basically point play. Head-to-head scoring with actual serves is as close as possible to a tennis competition. In this version, players will feel like there is an actual winner and loser in the competition.
